Cost of Living Comparison Between Aba and LagosCost of Living Comparison Between Aba and Lagos
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $515 per month in Aba vs $1,146 in Lagos, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $745 per month in Aba vs $1,925 in Lagos, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $975 per month in Aba vs $2,704 in Lagos, rent included.
🙂Aba is about 55% cheaper than Lagos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Aba and Lagos are more affordable than the global median – Aba61% lower, Lagos14% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aba
Lagos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.29₦7,293
$2.55₦3,508
107.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.44₦14.4K
$49.52₦68.2K
-78.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.17₦7,120
$5.43₦7,487
-4.79%
Cappuccino
-
$2.18₦3,006
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38₦522
$0.34₦466
11.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27₦375
$0.22₦304
22.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.03₦1,418
$0.84₦1,163
22.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29₦1,772
$1.38₦1,902
-6.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aba
Lagos
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$2.34₦3,220
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.04₦2,813
$1.20₦1,657
70.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.10₦5,655
$2.33₦3,215
75.97%
Eggs
$2.45₦3,379
$1.75₦2,408
40.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$1.59₦2,191
$6.31₦8,692
-74.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.53₦7,616
$4.29₦5,918
28.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$5.38₦7,413
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$3.53₦4,870
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$2.02₦2,782
-
Oranges(1kg)
$0.37₦512
$2.18₦3,004
-83.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.51₦696
$2.41₦3,315
-78.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.29₦1,775
$2.30₦3,174
-43.91%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50₦684
$1.95₦2,684
-74.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.92₦2,640
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.36₦494
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.18₦1,630
$1.30₦1,788
-9.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.36₦10.1K
$2.48₦3,411
196.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.63₦870
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.92₦1,275
-
🚌 Getting Around
Aba
Lagos
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54₦738
$0.74₦1,025
-27.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$36.56₦50.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.51₦698
$1.25₦1,721
-59.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48₦666
$2.25₦3,100
-78.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.11₦2,901
$4.81₦6,628
-56.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.67₦921
$0.79₦1,085
-15.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$20.5K₦28.3M
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$20.3K₦28.0M
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aba
Lagos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$41.41₦57.1K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$10.12₦13.9K
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$34.36₦47.4K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aba
Lagos
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.79₦17.6K
$31.49₦43.4K
-59.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.67₦9,191
$12.38₦17.1K
-46.12%
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.38₦8,794
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aba
Lagos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$90.6₦124.8K
$83.1₦114.6K
8.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$2,314₦3.2M
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aba
Lagos
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.12₦29.1K
$19.39₦26.7K
8.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.59₦21.5K
$24.20₦33.3K
-35.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$65.7₦90.6K
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$56.2₦77.4K
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aba
Lagos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$527₦726.6K
$1,083₦1.5M
-51.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$313₦430.7K
$633₦872.3K
-50.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$765₦1.1M
$2,698₦3.7M
-71.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$457₦630.5K
$1,381₦1.9M
-66.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,035₦1.4M
$3,219₦4.4M
-67.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$455₦627.0K
$1,598₦2.2M
-71.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aba
Lagos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$93.1₦128.3K
$118₦163.0K
-21.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
16.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aba: July 11, 2026
Last update for Lagos: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $527 in Aba versus $1,083 in Lagos. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 27% higher in Lagos, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $10.00 in Aba versus $50.0 in Lagos. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $192 – making Aba the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Aba vs Lagos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lagos cheaper than Aba?
Yes – Lagos is pricier by about 123%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $772 per month in Aba and $1,719 in Lagos. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Aba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Aba and in Lagos?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $515 in Aba and $1,146 in Lagos. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $90.6 per month in Aba and $83.1 in Lagos. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Aba or in Lagos?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aba, where all-in costs run around $515, than in Lagos at $1,146. In Aba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lagos it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Aba or Lagos more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Aba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Aba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lagos makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.